Joe Fenton is an English artist based in London who worked in the film industry for directors such as Terry Gilliam and for companies such as Disney and Miramax as a film concept designer and sculptor in both London and Prague.

After moved to USA, he gets a contract with Simon & Schuster for his first book; children's book illustrated and writed by the artist with the name "What's under the bed?". The second was "Boo!", in 2010. Since then Joe has focused in his work as indepentent artist. "At the start of 2010, I made the decision to focus majority of my time on building a collection of my personal works. This was triggered by need to express myself as an artist in a way that is different to working as an illustrator or artist for hire on a film."

Tatuajes a partir de / Tattoos after "The Almighty" y "Solitude"

Tatuaje con un diseño de Joe / Tattoo after a design by Joe

Joe's work consist mainly in huge works in graphite, ink and acrylic representing a universe full of fantastic creatures related through complicated designs. Besides its size, his creations have a surprising level of detail, definition and depth.

Q. What's the secret behind creating such a detailed artwork?

A. I don't really know? It's just how my mind works. I'm not satisfied until I have filled my images with many details, telling many stories in one image. Most of my works are embedded by ornamented frames with influences from the Baroque and renaissance periods. These artisans were also passionate about detailed work. Growing up in the UK I was lucky to be exposed to many beautiful things. I lived in some wonderful old houses and was surrounded by many old antiques from these periods. I think this gave me a real appreciation for artisans and designers from those times.

Mouths, eyes, skulls and brains become plants and small creatures that populate the symmetry of his works. Joe's art is influenced by many of the early surrealists. Embracing the grotesque by his employment of Hieronymus Bosch like figures that are gangly, writhing and cramped. Joe also uses motifs that suggest Eastern philosophy and Middle Eastern architecture whilst maintaining a feel for European Baroque and Rococo with complex frame ornamentation and plant like details.

"There are many religious references in my work. Whether it's a Ganesh like character or a grinning Buddha, or a faint crucifix adorning a rooftop in the far distance. This might seem strange as I am not a religious person, although I am on a constant journey to find a spiritual solution to give meaning to my life. I’m not mocking religion by having references to it in my work; I have a deep desire to experience some of what it has to offer. "

This is an open art blog, so you could find images eventually offensive or umconfortable.

If you're an artist and find here images of your art you want to be removed, just tell me and I'll do it immediately. I try to ask for permission always if artist is alive and there's a way to contact, bot not always is possible and there are things I think worth to be known.

In any case, the copyrights of all the images contained in this blog, except where noted, belong to the artists or the legal owners of such rights, and have been published nonprofit and for the only purpose of make the works known to the general public.

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